An Eye Toward History

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, COLO. — Annika Sorenstam seeks to win the third leg of the Grand Slam as the U.S. Women's Open begins today.

Rarefied air, indeed.

Just when it appeared as if Annika Sorenstam could climb no higher, that there were few rungs left on the professional mountain, the U.S. Women's Open rolls into the Mile High City.

Seeking to become the first player in 55 years to win the first three legs of the women's Grand Slam, perhaps the biggest question as play begins today at Cherry Hills Country Club near Denver is how fast she'll make her foes disappear into thin air.

A few years back, she was eyeing a retirement date in the not-too-distant future. Playing better than ever, Sorenstam now plans to stick around a good bit longer.

"Obviously, I am going to play a little longer, especially now that I am totally enjoying myself," Sorenstam said Wednesday. "I have reached a new level in my golf game, and I just don't want to let that go."

Sorenstam, 34, has won six times in eight starts in 2005 and eight in her past 10 dating to last season. Four years ago, she retooled her schedule to peak during the Grand Slam events and since has won six of the past 14 majors, posting top-five finishes in four others.

"I know what I want to do," she said. "Now it's time to play."

Sorenstam had five-stroke leads in the final round of the year's first two majors, cruised to relatively fret-free victories and stands as the first player to win the first two legs of the majors since Pat Bradley in 1986.

If Sorenstam were to win again, she could not pick a better stage. Cherry Hills has hosted three men's U.S. Opens, two PGA Championships and a U.S. Amateur. Arnold Palmer furiously rallied to win his lone Open title at Cherry Hills in 1960, holding off Ben Hogan and a chubby amateur named Jack Nicklaus.

"This is the site where Arnold Palmer became Arnold Palmer," said David Fay, executive director of the USGA.

A decidedly old-school course, Cherry Hills features tight, tree-lined fairways, smallish greens and the traditional shag-carpet rough. Playing at over 5,000 feet of altitude, players with length will have an even bigger advantage, given that they hit it straight.

Sorenstam is averaging an LPGA-best 274 yards, so factoring in the 10 percent distance gains from the thin air, she should be popping it roughly 300 yards off the tee.

Ten years ago, Sorenstam won her first of two Women's Open titles at The Broadmoor in nearby Colorado Springs. Back then, she was a slightly built player who was just hoping to keep her card.

"She's developed herself into the great player she is," defending champion Meg Mallon said. "It wasn't like she was this Michelle Wie phenom, destined for greatness."

But the Open has been particularly unkind to Sorenstam lately. She won in 1995 and '96, but has missed several opportunities this decade, blowing a third-round lead to Juli Inkster in 2002 and making a bogey on the 72nd hole to miss a playoff in 2003.

Mallon, who shot 65 in the final round and shaded her by two shots last year, is wondering how Sorenstam will be received if she wins all four majors this year.

"That's going to be the big question," Mallon said. "If she does win the Grand Slam, are people just going to go, 'Here she goes again,' or is she going to get the level of idolatry she deserves?" *